Compare towns
Peru vs Mapleton vs Dixfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peru has the most affordable homes ($141k median).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Dixfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Peru | Mapleton | Dixfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,501Lowest |
1,884 |
2,300Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48±7.6 7% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
49.9±4.4Highest 11% above ME |
| Dixfield and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±4 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.9%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Peru and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,827±$19kLowest 11% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$70,613±$9k 6% below ME |
| Mapleton and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$160,900±$24k 46% below ME |
| Mapleton and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $723±$16Highest 37% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$658±$287 42% below ME |
| Peru and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,799 41% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,324Highest 23% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.7%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
48%±20.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Dixfield and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.2% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
14%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 18% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
5%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Mapleton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 56 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 56 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Dirigo High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.